I'm going to book a vacation to Cuba in the next couple of weeks and I have a few questions.

What are the top sites you recommend?

Does anyone have any coupon codes for any sites?

Where should I get travel insurance? (If the website offers it should I just get it there, or will I get ripped off?)

If I book online, how soon after so I need to get travel insurance? i.e. Can I wait a couple weeks, or does it have to be purchased immediately?

My super paranoid dad put the idea in my head that I shouldn't book online b/c the website may go under and then I'd be screwed. But I don't want to book through an agent if I can do it cheaper on my own. Thoughts?

What's the procedure to get a Visa for Cuba?

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Visa is given to you for free at Cuban customs. You must pay 25 CUC (about $30 canadian) upon exiting the country.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROOF OF CUBAN HOTEL BOOKING. HAVE THE NAME OF THE HOTEL AND ADDRESS OR THEY WILL GIVE YOU A HARD TIME

If you charge your trip to a credit card you are usually safe if the business goes under. Also look for TICO if its an ontario agent as they are a regulatory travel fund.

Sunwing is always the cheapest ive found. Also try selloffvacations.com and Westjet recently started flying there.

You wont find anything on expedia, travelocity etc since they are american and are under the cuban embargo.

You should get travel insurance immediately (cancellation)... Medical insurance can usually wait and can be bought seperate.

Also dont go to cuba if you have the flu because they will quarantine you for 6 days over swine flu shenanigans. Happened to a friend of mine last month. Surprise surprise... he was fine!

Remember its a socialist/communist country so do not talk politics at all or risk going to jail. Also its prohibited to bring in any sort of GPS device including one built into your cell phone.

Cuba is awesome, go to Varadero Beach.

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 Cuba is awesome, go to Varadero Beach.

Veradero is great..

If you want a real adventure, dont book a hotel (except the first night for customs purposes). Rent a car and travel the country. You can stay at "particular" houses that are licensed by the government for tourists. Here you will meet real cubans and eat real cuban food.

This is the sign for "casa particular" They should charge you NO MORE THAN 30 CUC Per person per night BY LAW.



The only thing about renting a car is it gets a little expensive. About $100 a day. But well well worth it. I did this type of vacation twice this year and made a lot of cuban friends.

I am currently planning a trip to Varadero for early January. From my research so far I have found selloffvacations and West Jet vacations to be the best source for prices. Tripadvisor (in particular the forums) is a great source of getting reviews about the different resorts. I havent booked my tickets yet, but I should be within the next 3-4 weeks. Although its not predictable, in past years the prices did drop a bit in November as tour companies try to get the high season started, which starts in late November/early December.

www.exitnow.ca

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I always book with www.wholesaletravel.com it's always been the cheapest. The website is part of the umbrella of companies including selloffvacations, belair travel, and itravel2000 (there may be more that i'm forgetting)

How about you bump the thread you opened on this same topic a few months ago?

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quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 Veradero is great.. If you want a real adventure, dont book a hotel (except the first night for customs purposes). Rent a car and travel the country. You can stay at "particular" houses that are licensed by the government for tourists. Here you will meet real cubans and eat real cuban food. This is the sign for "casa particular" They should charge you NO MORE THAN 30 CUC Per person per night BY LAW. The only thing about renting a car is it gets a little expensive. About $100 a day. But well well worth it. I did this type of vacation twice this year and made a lot of cuban friends.

+1
Varadero is so played out. srsly. u might as well be in Miami.

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I am a BIG fan of itravel 2000...

We've used them twice and they were the best price/quality both times...

I'm pretty sure that they're big enough to not go under while you're away...

We even almost won our vacation cost back the last time with the let it snow promo...

Of course it snowed 4" instead of the 5" required on new years day '07 so tough luck...

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quote:

Originally posted by chinamon chinamon is INCH MOAN. LOL so fitting.

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie How about you bump the thread you opened on this same topic a few months ago?

Did a search...couldn't find it. Honestly, some days that search function works and other times it doesn't. lol

___________________
Shut up and DANCE!!
House moves my body, Trance owns my soul, Progressive drives me wild

you can buy travel insurance from your bank (I think it's like $25 or something)
it's the cheapest travel insurance, me thinks

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With your hands up in the sky,
Feel the energy deep inside your system
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